Convertible handbag-shopping bag



Aug. 23, 1949.

Filed Dec. 5, 1945 M. PASS CONVERTIBLE HANDBAG-SHOPPING-BAG 2Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR Marrz's 721 8 WMJ A TORNEY 2 Shets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 5, 1945 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1949 Morris Foss,Bronx, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Merton'l ass, West Forest Hills,N. Y.

Application December 3, 1945,;SerizLNo. 632,392

2 Claims.

makeup accessories, handkerchief, money and sundry articles. If otherarticles are purchased whileshopping, these have to be carried also, andthe usual handbag is not adequate for bulky packages. Ordinarily aseparate shopping bag of tough paper is furnished by the store, at anominal cost, for carrying the extra packages and the shopper isburdened with .two bags. Attempts have been made to provide a handbagwhich is convertible into a shopping bag, but such bags have not beencommercially successful for various reasons, such as excessive cost,complicatedlstructures, and utility impairment.

The present invention aims to provide an improved, inexpensive,convertible handbag which normally has no similarity to a shoppingbag'but has the utility and appearance of a handbag. When converted to ashopping bag, the articles normally in a handbag may be kept separatefrom the bulky articles purchased, with the appearance of an attractiveshopping bag.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved handbagwhich may be readily converted into a shopping bag.

Another object of the invention "is 'to provide an improved meansforconverting a handbagto a shopping bag and vice versa.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive shoppingbag which may be readily converted into an attractive handbag.

Another object of the invention ist'oprovide a convertiblehandbag-shopping bag in which all of the compartments are closed at thesides to prevent loss ofartlcles which might accidentally get into thewrong compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slide fastenerattachment which securely holds the folded parts when in handbag formand which permits ready conversion by operation thereof.

A more specific object is to provide an improved means of attaching theslide fastener to the handbag.

A further object is to simplify the constructionand to reduce the numberof parts in a convertible handbag.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various ad- 2 vantages notreferred to herein will .occur to one skilled .in the art uponemployment of the invention in practice.

.A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposesofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings.forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the handbag,illustrating its use as a handbag;

Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the bag with one side partiallyopened .to convert from a handbag to a shopping bag;

v Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 313 of Fig. 1 with theparts spaced to some ex tent to Illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig; 4 is ahorizontal sectional view along the libel-4 of Fig. 1,illustrating the construction of the bag;

Fig. 5' is a perspective view illustrating the bag converted to ashopping bag, with the flap open for receiving packages;

Fig. dis a detailed view illustrating a preferred way of attaching theslide fastener to the bag; and

Fig. 7is a sectional view along the line 1-1 of Fig; "6.

Referring again to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the bag is shown in Fig. 1 with a handle I secured to anap or closing means 2 at 4 and 5. The ends of the handle may be sewedto the flap for carryin the bag. In many cases the bag will be carriedunder the arm; in other cases shoulder straps may be desirable.

Tneconstruction of the bagis illustrated more clearly in 5 where the baghas beenconverted to a shopping bag, and this figure will be describedin some detail. The flap or closing nieans zmay be the endof arelatively long strip of material which forms the two sides or panelsand bottom of the bag, producing the open mouth or upper end 6.

In the description and likewise in the drawing, the parts of the bag areshown as made of a single thickness of material. It will beunderstood'that thebag may belined, if desired, and in many cases willhave stiffening members to cause the bag to retain its shape. Anysuitable means, such as cardboard or the like, may be utilized for thispurpose, but to simplify the drawing and description, these customaryparts have not been illustrated.

Suitable end members or end gussets 1 and '8 are provided to give thebag the necessary width and volume to serve as a shopping bag. These endmembers or gussets I and 8 may likewise be a fabric, leather,leatherette or similar materials, and are adapted to collapse so thatthe bag may be folded into a very compact structure. In the embodimentillustrated, the edges of the members or gussets i and 8 are folded,outwardly and sewn to the outer edges of thestrip of material 3 formingthe sidesor front and rear panels of the bag and the flap 2 of the bag.The stitches are indicated diagrammatically at 9.

Preferably the lower ends of the members 1 and 8 are rounded so that thebottom of the bag, as extended into a shopping bag and as shown in Fig.5, has a rounded appearance. This gives a more attractive construction,both as a handbag In order to accomplish this, the usual type of slidefastener is completely opened and the edge of the fabric l l oppositethe fastener edge is sewed ;to the bag adjacent the edge of the bag, asshown in detail in Figs. 6 and '7. When sewed on the bag, the sewn edgewill face outwardly toward the edge of the bag and the fastener edgewill face inwardly toward the opopsite end of the bag. Thisis indicatedin dotted line position as shown in Fig. 5 and as indicated in the fullline position shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

Where the ends of the two strips forming the slide fastener join; thatis, at the middle of the bag where the fastener I4 is shown in Fig. 5,the end of the joined strips, which is normally square,

is rounded so that the edge is substantially and as a shopping bag.

n the edges of the members or gussets I and 8, opposite the side of thebag having the flap 2 thereon, a slide fastener i0 is secured. A slidefastener ordinarilycomprises a fabric portion II with metal fasteners l2closed by a sliding member it. In the present construction, the fabric lI for the two sides of the fastener is attached to the edges of themembers I and 8 respectively so that the joined ends of the two sidemembers meet at the middle of the bag, where the slide fastener is shownin Fig. 5. The slide fastener is at the top in Fig. 1 and in partiallyopened position in Fig. 2.

By folding the bag from its extended position shown in Fig. untilthebottom of the bag rests against the top, as shown more particularlyin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the fabric members I! of the slide fastener will bebrought together with the fastener at the bottom. By pulling the slidefastener M up, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the slide fastenermay be closed to hold the bag in its folded position. It will be notedalso that in [closing the slide fastener, the slide fastener fabricextends over and conceals the inner or adjoining edges !5 and 16 so thatthe ends of the bag has the appearance of a handbag with only the outeredges ii and is exposed.

, Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be observed that thehandbag may be converted to a shopping bag by pulling the slidefasteners 14 down as shown in Fig. 2 until the fastener is at the foldedportion of the bag on each end thereof. The bottom of the bag may thenbe folded down to provide a shopping bag, as shown in Fig. 5. Likewisewhen it is desired to change from a shopping bag to a handbag, thebottom of the bag may be folded up, as shown in Fig. 3, and thefasteners pulled upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to close the slide fastenerover the inner edges l5 and I6 of the bag to provide a neat and compacthandbag. The bag then looks like a handbag and not merely like a foldedshopping bag; this is important to women who use such articles.

The flap 2 has a suitable fastener, here illustrated as a snap fastenerl9, and there is an eyelet 20 on the bag for co-operating therewith. Asimilar eyelet 29 is provided on the opposite side of the bottom of theshopping bag, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3, so that theflap may be secured in position in handbag form or in shopping bag form.It will be understood, of course, that any suitable fastener may beutilized for the conventional snap fastener shown.

While the slide fastener may be attached to the bag in any suitablemanner, it is desirable that it be as inconspicuous as possible. -Thisis particularly true when used as a shopping bag.

straight at this point as shown more particularly at 4!. Usually therewill be slight plaits at this point to take up the extra material due tothe straightening at the end, but this ordinarily is not noticeable.

By. attaching the slide fastener in this manner, the fabric l i has tobe folded back over the sewn edge as shown in Fig. 4 and 5 in order tobe in the position shown in Fig. 2 for holding the bag in closedposition. When the bag is opened up into shopping bag form, the slidefastener will automatically fold back into the fold of the bag asshownin dotted lines in Fig. 5 and as shown in full lines in Figs. 6 and 7,The addition of packages into the bag and the forcing of the endsoutwardly will enhance this tendency for the slide fastener to return toits concealed position. The slide fastener part has to be pulled out atthe time the bag is :to be folded for conversion into a handbag. butthis is quite simple by reason of the handle on the fastener M which iseasily accessible. While there is no intention of limiting the inventionto this particular feature relating to the attachment of the slidefastening device, it is very advantageous and-is illustrated in thepreferred embodiment.

It is desirable to have compartments for coins, bills, cosmetics andsimilar small articles which may be readily accessible .both in thehandbag form and in the shopping bag form. This is achieved in thepresent construction by forming pockets at the oposite sides of theupper end of the bag as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and v5.A pocket on one side may be formed by the two members 22 and 24, securedto the side of the bag by stitching 25 at the bottom of the pocket andby stitching 30 at the sides. The pocket is closed at its upper end by aslide fastening device 26. An additional pocket may be formed on theother side of the bag by the members 21 and 28, secured at their bottomsto the side of the bag by stitching 29 at the bottom and stitching 3| atthe sides. This pocket is illustrated in the drawings as open at the topbut it may also be closed if desired. In this way pockets are availablefor small articles and change at all times and there is no danger oftheir mingling with the articles in the shopping bag.

Where the preferred embodiment is to be used for a substantial period asa handbag, the inner fold, as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2and 3, forms a pocket or compartment 32 which may be used to contain anyarticles desired, and this of course increases the utility as a handbag.Such articles cannot accidentally fall out of the ends of thiscompartment for the slide fasteners at the sides thereof form a tightand continuous, seam-like closure. The articles would have to be removedwhen the bag is converted, but they could easily be placed in theshopping bag at that time. Likewise articles can be put in thecompartment 34 formed by the mouth of the bag proper. Again the articleswill drop down into the shopping bag when it is converted, if notremoved prior to the conversion. Normally, of course, there would be noobjection to this.

In extremely cold weather, the slide fasteners at the respective endsmay be opened and the hands inserted into the folds of the bag toprovide a muif for keeping the hands warm.

In the operation of the preferred embodiment, the bag is normally usedas a handbag and has the appearance shown in Fig. 1. When it is desiredto convert to a shopping bag, the slide fasteners I i are pulled downfrom their upper position as shown in Fig. 1 to their lower position, asillustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, at which time the bagmay be unfolded to provide a shopping bag as illustrated in Fig. 5. Byreason of the fabric ll of the slide fastener being attached to theedges of the bag in reversed position, as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and7, the slide fastener will tend to fold back into its dotted positionshown at 2! in Fig. 5 and become substantially concealed while the bagis used for shopping purposes. Likewise the attachment of one end of theslide fastener at the middle of the bag facilitates the movement toconcealed positlon and also facilitates the operation of the slidefastener.

The pockets on the inside of the bag for coins, bills and similar smallarticles are separate from, and maintain their contents separate from,the rest of the articles in the bag and are always readily accessible.

The bag may be converted back to a handbag by folding it as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 2 and by pulling the slide fasteners from theirbottom position to their top position. In doing this, the inner edges ofthe bag are concealed by the slide fastener to give the appearance ofthe usual handbag and, also, additional compartments are provided by theclosed end portions where extra compartment space is desired in thehandbag.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved handbagconstruction which may be readily converted into a shopping bag andlikewise readily converted back to a handbag. When used as a shoppingbag it loses its appearance as a handbag and vice versa. The utilizationof means for fastening the side edges of the bag provides a more readyconversion and a more secure construction when used as a handbag.Likewise it prevents open ended compartments into which articles mightbe placed when used as a handbag and hence be lost. The construction isinexpensive, made with a minimum number of parts and is readilyadaptable to vari ous types of material, such as fabric, leather andsimilar materials. The construction is rugged and fully capable ofwithstanding the rough usage to which it may be subjected as a shoppingbag and still retain its proper form for conversion into a neat andattractive handbag.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to heunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combination handbag and shopping bag comprising a front panel and arear panel connected together adjacent their lower portions to form aclosed bottom, and gussets interconnecting adjacent side edge portionsof said panels and forming therewith a shopping bag having an open upperend, means for closing said upper end, said panels being transverselyfoldable inter mediate their length against the upper portion of one ofsaid panels to provide a handbag, and slide fastener means connectedwith side edge POT-1 tions of said. front panel for connecting togetherthe side portions thereof when the panels are in said foldedrelationship, whereby in the folded condition of said panels the handbagis expandible to the full width of said gussets.

2. A combination handbag and shopping bag as set forth in claim 1,wherein the slide fastener means is carried by tapes secured inwardly ofthe side edges of the panels.

MORRIS FASS.

H file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,604,658 Post Oct. 26, 19261,606,107 Simms Nov. 9, 1926 1,705,149 Brady Mar. 12, 1929 2,079,401Eisenberg et a1 May 4, 1937 2,313,884 Mattoon Mar. 16, 1943 2,412,007Plapler Dec. 3, 1946

